What are the benefits of the invisible church?

We've been going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in the 17th Century. Recently we've been answering questions about God's church. Last time we saw that  all God's people (past, present and future) are part of the 'invisible' church. But what are the benefits of being part of the invisible church?

 

If you are part of the invisible church, one of the great benefits is the union and communion that you have with Christ, which means you share in his grace and glory.

 

Jesus prays for such unity in his high priestly prayer: 'I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one--I in them and you in me-- so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world' (John 17:20-24).

 

Jesus prays that all believers may be united with one another, just as the Son and the Father are united. But he also prays that the invisible church may be in the Son and in the Father. Jesus also prays that invisible church will be with him and thereby share in his glory.

 

And this desire of Christ became a reality.  God  granted  the  request of Jesus. Paul teaches that we are now united with Christ:  '...because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-- it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus' (Ephesians 2:4-7).

 

Even now, the invisible church has been raised with Christ and is seated with him. The elect reign with Christ over all creation and share in his glory.

 

This privilege of unity with Christ then becomes a witness to the watching world. In Christ's priestly prayer we saw that as the church is in Christ, the world knows that the Father has sent the Son and that the Father has loved the church even as he has loved the Son. Our unity is a testimony to the world.

 

Paul speaks of this when he says that God has raised us up with Christ 'in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus'.

 

So the invisible church receives union with Christ. And that union with Christ is a marvelous witness to God's grace.

 

So are you part of the 'invisible' church? Do you reign with Christ over this world? Turn from your sin and trust in Christ today and begin to enjoy union with the Son.

 

Joel Radford.

 

 

What is the invisible church?

We've been going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in the 17th Century. Recently we've been answering questions about God's church. We saw that there is a 'visible' church which is a society made up of people who profess  to be believers in Christ and share in each other's gifts. But if there is a 'visible' church, what is the 'invisible' church?

 

The 'invisible' church is the whole number of the elect Christians that are gathered under Christ as their head, or  one day will be. In other words, the 'invisible' church is made up of all Christians – past, present and future.

 

Jesus speaks of the invisible church using the illustration of a sheep pen: 'I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me--just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd' (John 10:14-16).

 

Jesus is gathering his people together into one group. Some are already gathered with him in paradise. Some are gathered to him now on earth. Other members are yet to come into the church. But the good news is that all will have the Lord Jesus Christ as their shepherd and enjoy salvation in heaven for the rest of eternity.

 

So why is this church called 'invisible'? Because we as humans don't know precisely who is a part of the church of God – it is 'invisible' to us.

 

Some  members of God's church are invisible to us because they are no longer here on earth, they're rejoicing in paradise out of sight.

 

Some members of God's church are invisible to us because they have not come to Christ yet. They are unsaved at this stage.

 

The rest of the members of God's church we may be able to physically see, but they are invisible to us because we cannot truly know if they are part of God's elect. The apostle Paul warns the Ephesian elders that some who are in the church are not true sheep of God: 'I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them' (Acts 20:29-30).

 

So the church of God is ultimately invisible to us. Only God can see into paradise, and see into the future and see into the human heart. So only God is able to see the 'invisible' church.

 

So what is the difference between the 'visible' church and the 'invisible' church. The theologian Wayne Grudem says that the visible church is 'the church as Christians on earth see it' while the invisible church is 'the church as God sees it'.

 

So how do you become a part of the 'invisible' church and get to go to heaven? You need to trust that Jesus Christ died for you. If you do that, you are included in Christ's sheep pen and have eternal life.

 

Have you trusted in Jesus' death for you and are part of the 'invisible' church?                           

 

Joel Radford

What are the privileges of the visible church?

We've been going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in 1648. Last week we started looking at questions about God's church. We saw that the 'visible' church is a society made up of people who profess  to be believers in Christ. In other words, a 'visible' church is a local church. But why bother joining a 'visible' church? What are the privileges of being part of the visible church?

 

Many people believe that you don't need to be a part of a local church. You can function quite well as a Christian without needing to be around other Christians.

 

But if you aren't part of a local church, then you miss out on the many privileges that come from being amongst other believers.  In 1 Corinthians, the apostle Paul says that God has given us one Spirit but many gifts: 'There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of  one  and  the  same  Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ' (1 Corinthians 12:4-12). Paul is clear. The different gifts are given for 'common good'. Which means if you don't join a local church, you miss out on experiencing the gifts that others have but you don't have.

 

Paul continues to make his point by comparing the church to the human body: 'If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?' (1 Corinthians 12:17). The eye needs the ear and the ear needs the nose. The human body does not function properly unless all its organs are present. So it is with the church – to function properly, it needs the members with their different gifts.

 

Paul then warns against an attitude of disdain for other members of the local church: 'The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!"' (1 Corinthians 12:21). And he doesn't end there. I'd encourage you to read the rest of the passage for yourself.

 

So if you're a Christian, you must belong to a local church. If you don't, you're missing out on sharing in the gifts that God has given to others, but hasn't given to you. You're also being selfish – you are keeping for yourself the gifts that God has given you that were meant to be shared.

 

So do you belong to a 'visible' church? Do you thank God for the special privileges that come from being part of a 'local' church?         

 

- Joel Radford

What is the visible church?

We've been going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in 1648. This week we're going to start looking at questions about God's church.

 

In the Bible the word 'church' can refer to two types of churches – commonly known as the 'visible' and the 'invisible' church.

 

This week we'll look at the 'visible' church and next week we'll turn to the 'invisible'. So what is the 'visible' church? It is a society made up of people who profess  to be believers in Christ. In other words, a 'visible' church is a 'local' church.

 

There are many references in the New Testament to 'visible' churches. For example, when Paul writes to the 'church' in Corinth, he is referring to a particular group of people who follow Christ and live in Corinth. In his opening remarks in 1 Corinthians, Paul writes: 'To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ--their Lord and ours' (1 Corinthians 1:2).

 

So does that mean everyone who hears about Jesus and is in the visible church is saved? No. Jesus warns that many people will profess his name but are not truly saved. He says: 'Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'' (Matthew 7:21-23).

 

Paul also warns that many who claimed to be Israelites were not actually Israelites: 'For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham's children. On the contrary, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." In other words, it is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring' (Romans 9:6-8). Being born a descendant of Abraham didn't make you a true Israelite. You needed to believe in the Lord yourself.

 

So belonging to a 'visible' church is a good thing to do. The New Testament expects Christians to be part of a local church – there is no category for a lone ranger Christian.

 

But just because you are part of a local church, that doesn't mean you are a Christian. People can't see into your heart and know whether you truly believe in Christ. They may accept you into membership based on your profession, but inevitably, some false professors will slip in unnoticed.

 

So are you a member of a local church? Good. But are you a believer in Christ? Because it doesn't matter what local church you belong to on judgement day. If you don't believe that Christ died for your sins, you will be punished eternally. Believe in Christ today and  become a member of a 'visible' church – not to be saved, but because you are saved.

Joel Radford

Go to church to become holy

For the last few weeks we’ve been looking at reasons to go to church and be taught. This week I want to encourage you to go to church to become holy.

Once you become a Christian through repentance and faith, you then are supposed to be holy by doing good works. Otherwise your faith is shown to not be true faith at all. James tells you: ‘faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead’ (James 2:17). How do you do good works? By obeying God’s commands to love him and love your neighbours.

But doing good works is not easy. Once you are a Christian, being good is not plain sailing. You will find that again and again you do not show love to God and you do not show love to your neighbour. So how can you become holy more easily? Go to your local church to find the teaching and support that you need.

Again and again the secular world encourages support groups for overcoming difficult tasks. Programs like Weight Watchers are designed to give proper teaching on weight loss as well as provide support networks between fellow weight losers.

And there is definitely a sense in which going to church is like attending a weight watchers program. You meet up with people who all have the same goal of losing spiritual fat and gaining spiritual muscle. You then all listen to someone explain the best ways to gain spiritual muscle and lose fat. The fact that everyone else sits there and listens to the teaching encourages you to take it seriously and gives you an opportunity to discuss what was taught afterwards.

And it works. Paul describes the change that came from being taught the word: ‘But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted’ (Romans 6:17). The Romans heard someone teaching and obeyed it.

You may be able to read your Bible at home and try to grow in holiness on your own. But as with most self-directed programs, you will not grow as strongly as when you receive teaching on how to be holy.
 
Do you attend church to grow in holiness?

Joel Radford.

Go to church to be driven to Christ

For the last three weeks we’ve been looking at reasons to go to church and be taught. This week I want to encourage you to go to church to find Christ.

Although we can read about Christ in the Bible, it is often by hearing preaching about Christ that we are stimulated to flee to him. We see numerous examples of this in the New Testament beginning with John the Baptist: ‘The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)’. John is preaching the same message about Jesus the following day and this time his words are not without effect: ‘The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!" When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus’ (John 1:35-37). The preaching of John the Baptist results in people following Jesus.

Another example is found in Paul: ‘Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me’ (2 Corinthians 2:12). Paul preached the gospel of Christ and finds people responding as God brings them to Christ through his preaching.

Numerous examples can also be found in church history of how preaching has led people to Christ. One extraordinary example is told of the Puritan preacher John Flavel: ‘Luke Short was a farmer in New England who attained his hundredth year in exceptional vigour though without having sought peace with God. One day as he sat in his fields reflecting upon his long life, he recalled a sermon he had heard in Dartmouth as a boy before he sailed to America. The horror of dying under the curse of God was impressed upon him as he meditated on the words he had heard so long ago and he was converted to Christ – eighty-five years after hearing John Flavel preach.’ Going to church and hearing a preacher can benefit you even eight decades later by driving you to Jesus.

Now I’m not suggesting that God doesn’t use any other means of bringing about the conversions of the lost. People are driven to Jesus in all kinds of ways. But God reveals to us again and again that he has a particular love for using preaching to win souls and we should be eager to benefit from this powerful instrument of God by attending our local church.

Do you go to church to be driven to Jesus?            

Joel Radford

Go to church to be humbled

We have begun looking at why you should attend your church to be taught the Bible. This week I want to show you that you should go to church to be humbled.

Humility is something we all should seek. Peter reminds us that ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’ (1 Peter 5:5). So if you want to be on the side of God you need to be humble.

And it is through the public reading of the Bible that people are often brought to realise their position before God. In the Old Testament you see this during the reign of King Josiah. When the priests are cleaning up the temple they find the Book of the Law of the LORD. ‘Then Shaphan the secretary informed the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." And Shaphan read from it in the presence of the king. When the king heard the words of the Law, he tore his robes’ (2 Chronicles 34:18-19). King Josiah is then commended by God for his humility ‘Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD. Now I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be buried in peace.’ (2 Chronicles 34:26-28).

The same thing happens in the New Testament when Peter is preaching to the Jews. Peter finishes with ‘Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.’ (Acts 2:36). Then we see the response of the people: ‘When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?”’ (Acts 2:37). Peter’s instructions to them are: ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 2:38). With humility comes repentance, forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore it is clear that God often uses the public reading and preaching of his word to bring humility to sinners. And it is by going to church on Sunday that you can hear the Bible read and preached and so can be humbled and experience the blessings that come with humility.

Do you attend church so that you will be humbled?      

Joel Radford

Go to church to understand the Bible better

Attending church on Sundays is not always the easiest thing to do. Our lives are busy and complicated.  Making one hour a week available to hear from the Bible often seems too hard – particularly when you can pick up the Bible and read it at home by yourself. So today I’m beginning a series of articles on why you should attend your church to be taught the Bible. This week I want to begin by looking at how being taught at church helps you understand the Bible better.

The problem with humans is sin and this problem affects even our minds so that you are unable to think clearly. Although you can read the Bible by yourself (and you should!) it doesn’t always make much sense to you. Sin gets in the way. What you need is someone to help explain it to you so that your mind is enlightened.

Thankfully God has been providing teachers to explain his word for years. An Old Testament example would include the a passage in Nehemiah: ‘The Levites…instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read’ (Nehemiah 8:7-8).

A New Testament example would include Philip helping the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8. The eunuch is reading Isaiah and Philip goes and asks him "Do you understand what you are reading?"  Then the eunuch answers "How can I," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?" (Acts 8:30-31).

This eunuch’s experience is often our experience when we read the Bible. You realise that you need someone to explain it to you. And God graciously still provides teachers of the Bible for his people today so that they can understand what is written. Where do you find these teachers? Usually they’re at your local church. So when you go to church you are recognising your inability to be a constant self-feeder. You need help and you recognise that the help you need can be found at your church. So you get up Sunday mornings and go despite the difficulties you may experience in getting there.

Do you attend church so that you can understand the Bible?

Joel Radford

What is the purpose of church?

Now that we have examined what is the invisible and visible church, I want to look at the purposes of church (both invisible and visible).

Firstly, the church has a responsibility to praise God. Ultimately everything we do must be a part of this purpose, after all God made us Christians for this very reason: ‘In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory’ (Ephesians 1:11-12). But we have a particular responsibility to praise him together, through listening to his word, prayer and singing: ‘Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God’ (Colossians 3:16).

Secondly, the church has a responsibility to minister to believers. When we become a Christian we are supposed to start being cared for by other Christians and care for other Christians ourselves: ‘Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ’ (Galatians 6:2). If a church is not nurturing and looking after other members then it is a church that is not fulfilling its responsibilities.

Thirdly, the church has a responsibility to the world. God has in his wisdom chosen to use the church to bring people to his Son, Jesus Christ. People cannot believe in Jesus without hearing the gospel and God usually sends it through the preaching found in his church: ‘How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?’ (Romans 10:14). The church also has a responsibility to care for the physical needs of the world: ‘But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked’ (Luke 6:35).

Does Drummoyne Baptist love to fulfil their responsibilities to God, believers and the world? I hope they do.  And if you’re not part of God’s church then let me as the minister of this church encourage you to repent and believe in Christ for the forgiveness of your sins right now. He is the only way you can be saved.

Joel Radford

What is a ‘visible’ church?

Two weeks ago I explained that the ‘invisible’ church is all believers in Jesus Christ. For the next few weeks I want to look at what are ‘visible’ churches.

‘Visible’ churches, in contrast to ‘invisible’ churches, are all local churches where we can see visibly who are members and who are not members. Thus, Drummoyne Baptist church is a ‘visible’ church. But if the word ‘church’ means a ‘gathering of people’ what are the necessary ingredients that make a Christian church more than a gathering of people. Are two Christians having coffee at Gloria Jeans considered a ‘visible’ church?

Historically it has been understood that a ‘visible’ church consists of at least two essential ingredients: the true gospel being preached and the administration of the ordinances/sacraments of baptism and communion.

The first ingredient, that the gospel must be preached, is obviously essential. If a group of people are gathered together and believe that Jesus is not their saviour from sin, then they are not a Christian church. This is why Christian churches do not recognise many Roman Catholic and some Protestant churches as ‘visible’ churches. While they preach that man is saved through Jesus and good works, they are preaching a false gospel that denies the sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice. We cannot accept them as Christian brothers and sisters.

The second ingredient, the administration of baptism and Lord’s supper, is also obviously essential. The ordinances are functioning as basic membership controls. Baptism is a recognition of admittance into the church and the Lord’s Supper is a sign of continuing membership – the church signifies that it considers those who receive baptism and the Lord’s Supper to be saved. Therefore if a man preaches the gospel on the street but does not celebrate the ordinances with those gathered, they have not formed a ‘visible’ church, even though the gospel is being preached.

Over the coming weeks we’ll look at other characteristics of ‘visible’ churches, but for now we need to recognise that if the gospel is not preached and people are not distinguished as believers or unbelievers, you cannot have a ‘visible’ church. Are you part of a ‘visible’ church at its most basic level? Do you regularly meet with others to hear the gospel preached and to see people officially recognised as believers?

Joel Radford.

What is the invisible church?

How would you answer the question, what is a church? The Greek word for ‘church’ in the Bible can refer to any gathering of people. So you could call a crowd at a football match a ‘church’ (and for some people sport is indeed their religious ‘church’).  But when the word ‘church’ is used in the New Testament it is re-defined to mean Christ’s church – a group of Christians.  But even then the word ‘church’ is used in two ways.  Sometimes it refers to what theologians call the ‘invisible’ church and at other times to what they call a local ‘visible’ church (such as Drummoyne Baptist).  This week I want to look at what is the ‘invisible’ church and next week what is the local ‘visible’ church.

One Christian Confession defines the invisible church as the ‘entire number of the elect, all those who have been, who are, or who shall be gathered into one under Christ, Who is the Head.’  Thus all true Christians who have repented of their sins and put their trust in Jesus’ death on the cross for their sins are part of the ‘invisible’ church.  We call this church invisible because we cannot be a hundred percent certain who is in it. Only God knows which people the Holy Spirit has invisibly worked upon to make them be members of this church. Whereas a local ‘visible’ church knows exactly who the members are – those who have been formally accepted into membership.

A number of Bible passages use the word ‘church’ when referring to the ‘invisible’ church.  For example the author of Hebrews says: ‘But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven’ (Hebrews 12:23). The ‘church’ here is all whose names are recorded in God’s book of life – no unbelievers allowed. Therefore the word ‘church’ here cannot be referring to a local ‘visible’ church – it must be the ‘invisible’ church.

So when you see the word ‘church’ in your Bibles ask yourself which church is it referring to, the ‘invisible’ or ‘visible’. But before you do that, ask yourself whether you belong to the ‘invisible’ church. It is very easy to join some local ‘visible’ churches, but that does not guarantee you are saved from your sins. Just because you are a member of a local ‘visible’ church doesn’t mean you have eternal life.  Only those who have truly repented of their sins and believed in Jesus have joined the ‘invisible’ church and are saved.  Is that you?

Joel Radford.